President Donald Trump Wednesday spoke exclusively with Sinclair Broadcast Group station WWMT - TV ahead of a meeting with the nation's top automakers.

The president touched on his plans to rebuild the auto industry and how he hopes to bolster the economy.

POLITICAL REPORTER NICK MINOCK: RIGHT NOW CHINA IS THE LARGEST MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD, SO HOW DOES MICHIGAN, HOW DOES THE UNITED STATES REALLY BUILD THE REBIRTH OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY?

TRUMP: Well we’re coming back, and we’re coming back bigly. As you know what’s happening in Michigan, Ford is coming back, GM is coming back, they’re stopping largely with other plants in other countries – I won’t go specific as to countries – but they’re coming back with plants. Ford’s going to be announcing an expansion today, GM is announcing an expansion, Fiat is coming in.

NICK: WHEN YOU MEET WITH THESE AUTO EXECUTIVES, WHAT TONE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IN THIS MEETING?

TRUMP: I think it’s a very nice tone. I’m going to help them. I’m going to help them with emissions, I’m going to help them with fuel. I’m going to help them with the things they need help with because they can’t meet these standards, there’s no way they can do it. They can only do so much. You can only get so much out of a grape, as the expression goes. So, I’m going to help them but they have to help me. If I help them, they’re going to open up factories and they’re going to create jobs and if they’re not going to do that, I’m not helping them.

TRUMP: I want them back in Michigan and we’re going to make it easier for them to come back. They want to leave and manufacture cars then turn around and sell those cars in the United States, those days are over. IF they want to build a car in another country, they can do that. But they’re not going to turn around and sell that car back in this country without paying a price. And that’s going to keep the car companies here.